Frequently Asked Questions

FIS360 is named for fis or fios, an early Gaelic word meaning knowledge or vision, with 360 representing our ethos of offering a fully encompassed service with our clients at the centre.

We pronounce it F-I-S-3-60.

We are a close-working hybrid team of 16, with offices in Penrith, Glasgow and Stockport, with skills and experiences that span across all aspects of open innovation and commercialisation. We also have a network of trusted partners available to draw upon as required.

We work with all types of organisations, including small to medium enterprises (SMEs), large corporates, academia, research and technology organisations, and public sector bodies.

Our work and contact network extends across many industrial sectors including but not limited to: nuclear, water, agriculture, engineering, chemical processing, computer modelling, robotics, renewables, systems engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, and design.

Yes. Our contact network extends globally, with active relationships across Europe, North America, South America, Canada and Asia.

Open innovation is a business model where companies and organisations collaborate with external partners, such as universities, SMEs or other firms, to develop new products, services or technologies.

By seeking outside knowledge, ideas and resources to complement your internal capabilities, you can enhance and accelerate your innovation processes, reduce costs, and spread risk.

Technology commercialisation is the process of turning new ideas and innovations – often developed through research – into market-ready products or services. It bridges the gap between invention and real-world application, ensuring that valuable technologies don’t remain in the lab but become real solutions that benefit industries, society, and the economy.

Key stages in the process include:

• Identifying market opportunities
• Protecting intellectual property (e.g. patents)
• Developing a prototype or proof of concept
• Securing funding and investment
• Creating a go-to-market strategy
• Launching and scaling the solution

Game Changers is the Open Innovation programme developed by FIS360 and co-delivered with UKNNL on behalf of Sellafield Ltd.

Established in 2016, Game Changers is the UK’s leading nuclear innovation programme, finding solutions and developing technologies to overcome some of the most complex decommissioning challenges facing the nuclear industry.

FIS360 manages the open innovation process, from engagement with key nuclear industry stakeholders, production and marketing of challenges, evaluation of applications, project monitoring of feasibility and proof of concept projects, and commercialisation support services.

Find out more.

Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) are a method for understanding the technical maturity of a technology during its acquisition phase.

Initially developed by NASA in the early 1970s as a means of assessing technology for space exploration, TRLs enable consistent and uniform discussions of technical maturity across different types of technology.

TRLs are based on a scale from 1 to 9 with 9 being the most mature technology.

Acronyms are invaluable in complex industries like nuclear. Here are some useful acronyms and their meaning:

• AGR – Advanced Gas-Cooled Reactor
• AMR – Advanced Modular Reactor
• COTS – Commercial Off-The-Shelf
• DNLEU – Depleted, Natural and Low-Enrichment Uranium
• EA – Environment Agency (England’s Environmental Regulator)
• EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment
• GDF – Geological Disposal Facility
• HAW – Higher Activity Wastes
• HAZOP – Hazard and Operability Study
• HEU – Highly Enriched Uranium
• HM – Heavy Metals
• HTGR – High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor
• IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency
• ILW – Intermediate Level Waste
• IoT – Internet of Things
• LiDAR – Light Detection and Ranging
• LLW – Low-Level Waste
• LOD – Limit Of Detection
• LWR – Light Water Reactor
• MBGW – Miscellaneous Beta-Gamma Waste
• MOTS – Modified Off-The-Shelf
• MOX – Mixed Oxide Fuel
• NDA – Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
• NDT – Non-Destructive Testing
• NSD – Near Surface Disposal
• ONR – Office for Nuclear Regulation
• PCM – Plutonium Contaminated Material
• PIE – Post-Irradiation Examination
• POCO – Post Operational Clean Out
• PUR – Polyurethane
• PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride
• PWR – Pressurised Water Reactor
• R&D – Research and Development
• RAD – Remediation Accelerated Decommissioning
• RAI – Robotics Artificial Intelligence
• ROV – Remotely Operated Vehicles
• RW – Radioactive Waste
• SEPA – Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• SGHWR – Steam Generating Heavy Water Reactor
• SLC – Site Licence Companies
• SMR – Small Modular Reactor
• STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
• TRL – Technology Readiness Level
• U – Uranium
• UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
• UKAEA – UK Atomic Energy Authority
• UKNNL – United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory
• VLLW – Very Low Level Radioactive Waste
• VPS – Vitrified Product Store
• WANO – World Association of Nuclear Operators
• WiN – Women in Nuclear
• WNA – World Nuclear Association
• WTC – Waste Treatment Centre
• XRF – X-Ray Fluorescence